Mana Waka

Mana Waka is a feature length documentary directed by Merata Mita in 1990, made from footage shot by RGH Manley between 1937 and 1940. Princess Te Puea Herangi commissioned the building of three large Waka taua for the 1940 centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Black and white footage follows the long, slow, unfolding of the construction of the waka. The spiritual element of this work is evident in the film. The sound track was specially composed for the silent footage.